A new North Dakota law requires all waterfowl hunters, regardless of age, to have a state-issued waterfowl habitat restoration stamp in possession while afield this fall. Waterfowl include ducks, geese, swans, mergansers and coots. Senate bill 2216 requires every resident and nonresident ...

As September settles in and we inch closer to fall, some hunters have enjoyed August goose hunting, the opening of archery deer and dove hunting. For anxious October pheasant hunters in North Dakota, the early signs are promising. Each spring, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department ...

When you hear terms like wildlife survey, census, or index, it might sound like three ways to say the same thing, but there are key differences, especially in how we at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department manage wildlife. Surveys use scientific sampling to estimate populations. Our ...

No one will argue the intent of catch-and-release fishing. To enjoy the thrill of landing a fish and then successfully releasing it to live another day and possibly providing an opportunity for the next angler. While the intentions are noble, there’s much more to consider for the full ...

North Dakota’s early Canada goose season dates are set, with bag limits and licensing requirements the same as last year. Opening day is Aug. 15 in all three zones. Closing dates are Sept. 7 in the Missouri River zone; Sept. 15 in the western zone; and Sept. 22 in the eastern zone. Early ...

The deadline to apply for the 2025 pronghorn hunting season is Aug. 6. Only North Dakota residents are eligible to apply. Contact the North Dakota Game and Fish Department for information about applying.